Motive of my absence

I apologise for my absence. I’ve been getting a lot on my plate these last few days, my cat’s wound is already finishing closing but I’ve been dealing with loss and out and about taking care of documentation like provisional driving license and searching for a car to buy. These are things that need to be done, right now, for example, British public transports are costing me more money than a thirsty car and besides they are quite unreliable, unpunctual and just with too many messy connections.

I want to go back to studies (Military history) and also take my class H driving license (tracked vehicles) but all these things are slightly far away. I want to keep on living at this place but the school options I have are all +1 hour away plus the class H license will be all the way near London. This summer, when I started going to all these events I’ve meet really nice people that I also would like to keep a friendship with but they are all away up north, I want to be able to just drive to them to hang out, I live in a military area and you rarely get to see the same face twice around here, so things can get pretty isolated and I’m tired of piggybacking on friends every time I need to be anywhere as well.

Working on becoming a full “strong independent sassy women”.

Anyway, on the car, I usually keep things like this away from the blog but most of you are guys so hear ye. Let me know your opinion/suggestions.

Since a kid, I’ve dreamt about owning a UMM Alter. UMM is a Portuguese company that used to make 4x4s but still fabricates parts for the cars that still exist. This company sold cars for civilians and the Portuguese army, my family used to have a couple and I love them dearly. UMM happened to fabricate cars for British roads and I’ve been searching for a model to buy for some months. A now friend of mine, Tom Dooley who’s hobby is collecting vehicles knows of 2 that are being sold, took a look at them are they are really battered, could get them for a very low price but then it would require to replace many parts, get a new paint etc. It’s something I will do some day, a few years from now, but at this moment I need a car that I can get the keys for, just start it up and go where I need to.

By the way, this is how a UMM Alter looks like:

As you can see is had closed and open variations, armament comes separately. 🙂

But as I’ve been unable to find a UMM that’s been well taken care of in the UK, there’s another particular vehicle that caught my attention last year and that happens to be for sale.

At TankFest 2015, Jingles and I got some transport issues and we’ve met one of you, an Ex-tanker (Roy aka Dogsbody) who immediately offered to drive us to the hotel where we were staying and back to where we live and the whole time, I was enjoying how good his car felt and sounded. Well that car, a Range Rover happens to be for sale and pretty sure it’s what I will be getting.

This is the photo available so far (will be posting on social media when I get more):

Is a bit thirsty, has a 4.6 litre V8 petrol but I may get it fitted for something that will suck half the fuel. It’s in really good condition and on top of that it received some extra work. It’s an old Range Rover but I find older cars to have more charm. 🙂

My only concern is the insurance… getting some of the guys to look that form me and get me the best deal possible.

It will definitely go anywhere and can carry a great deal, can be expensive if it breaks but it’s a durable good car. My friend wouldn’t sell it to me if he knew the thing isn’t reliable.

Please have in mind, I won’t be driving it on the daily basis as I work from home, this vehicle will be mostly used for close by studies and social reasons, thing is, usually where I socialize is around tank events/farms and the roads can be quite rough at times, I don’t want a “city car” that will end up with square wheels each time I try to hang out with friends.

Also, I’m used to driving things bigger than this RR, my sole driving experience, as an adult, consists of APCs and Tanks, being in a small car really makes me feel uncomfortable and I’m seriously afraid of getting hurt if I get a small one.

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96 comments on “Motive of my absence”

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Kia Sportage, small engine (maybe slightly underpowered) but means it will be something that you can afford to insure, they are reliable, and not too expensive to run.

It might even be worth considering in the Uk of a leasehire (PCP) of a brand new one, because although the monthly payment per month over 36 months would be about £260, the insurance on a new one, for a first time driver oddly may work out cheaper than on a secondhand one. Plus a new one is very cheap to run.

I’d say a Subaru WRX of some kind, ton of variants, would be a choice. Perhaps Lan-Evo?
If it needs to be big I’d call for something like a Japanese pickup/van such as Toyota Hiace. Mazda might have some options too. Toyota Tundra?
or an American pickup/SUV (the SUV that is also fit beyond the suburbs like Chevy Suburban/Tahoe, Ford F-150/250, Dodge Dakota/Durango.

Having owned a 77 Chevy Blazer, other vintage cars, and currently having 3 vintage motorcycles my advise to you is this:
At the end of the day, when everyday life catches up, cheap and reliable trumps cool and vintage.
Old 4×4’s can be expensive to run. Check out the price for a set of tires vs a normal car. If you absolutely want a beefy 4×4 go japanese. Toyota Hilux, Landcruiser, Nissan Patrol, Suzuki Vitara etc. That’s what terrorists prefere as their car of choice in remote parts of the world with limited service network.
Land Rovers are often cheap when they are old and used up. That’s because they are expensive to maintain. V8 Land Rover? Call your local shop and ask for the price of a routine service. Nightmare incoming….
Go smart and get yourself a Suzuki Jimny as new and good as you can afford. Put on some oversized wheels and enjoy a reliable car. My mom had one. Went up icy hills in Norway when overweight 4×4’s got stuck.

Rita, Dont do it. Its not the right time. a Big 4×4 will be loads of hassle you dont need, that why they are cheap. Get a little sensible car, pocket the change, get your test passed and some no claims built up. Get your studies done and then look around for something you really want. You will be able to invest more in it and you will enjoy it more. Sorry its boring, do it once and do it right.

Apparently you didn’t read what hour replying to, if the post is to be trusted.
It’s not “boredom” why she said no city cars.
Then again I do agree that despite the post, starting with monster sized cars, or picking them at all without a jesus in your wallet is a little irrational.
So some Japanese AWD like WRX would be a top recommendation from me.

If You really want a monster with a big engine, also think about Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. They are quite similar to Range Rover in their dimensions, comfortable, but they are much, much cheaper to maintain. The V8 engines are 5.2 litre and the mighty “Niner” – 5.9 litre.

Rita dear, Range Rovers are thirsty, petro is expensive, and if they brake down ( which they will, materials are worn down in time, metal ages, it’s not like wine or cheese to improve with age), your eyes will pop out when you see the bill. My recomendation is eighter toyota rav 4, ( toyotas are known for sturdiness and reliability, check out this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk ). Or an oldy but goodie, suzuki samuray ( or jimny ). They are not so thirsty ( the rav has 2,0 litre for the RAV https://www.gumtree.com/p/toyota/toyota-rav4-d4d-nrg-3-door-4×4/1181012153 , and the jimny is even smaller 1,3 petro.https://www.gumtree.com/p/suzuki/suzuki-jimny-jlx-convertible-1.3-petrol-58-000-miles-only-4×4-offroder/1180829273 . But don’t let the size fool you, they will literaly go anywhere, won’t brake your budget, are cheep to maintain ( part wise at least), and I’m sure the insurance won’t bankrupt you. I personally have a suzuky gran vitarra for day to day travels, and a samuray for weekend off road fun. 😀
but in the end, it’s whatever floats your boat, I’m just saying these options are relatively cheap, reliable, an they don’t lose much of they’re value on resale. Have fun, and post some pictures of your new wheels after you purchased them 😉

Well over here in the states RR is one of the biggest POS brands around. I work for a high end auto complex and Land Rover and Jag are sold together in the same dealer. Their service area has the most cars in the entire complex waiting to be worked on at any one time. Even BMW seems to have less and they used to be the largest BMW dealer in the country. The new Honda’s seem to be getting good reviews though so maybe look at some of those models. But then I don’t know a lot about the brands you can get in Britain now that you aren’t part of the EU anymore.